SOUNDGARDEN’s Final Album With Chris Cornell Is Expected in 2027

Nine years after the death of Chris Cornell, Soundgarden are moving steadily toward the release of what will become the band’s final studio album. Guitarist Kim Thayil has confirmed that the long-awaited record is now expected to arrive in 2027, offering the clearest indication yet of when fans can hear the last songs created with Cornell.

The album has remained in development since legal disputes between the band and Cornell’s estate were resolved in 2023. Since then, Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron and bassist Ben Shepherd have focused on completing material that Cornell helped write and partially record before his passing in 2017.

Speaking to Ultimate Guitar, Thayil revealed that the project is still evolving, with the band currently working toward a collection of approximately nine tracks. Several songs stem from collaborative writing sessions in which Cornell developed lyrics from music submitted by his bandmates, often reshaping arrangements to match the emotional rhythm of the words while preserving the dynamics of the original compositions.

The final selection has yet to be confirmed. According to Thayil, the remaining members are carefully evaluating which unfinished recordings can be completed without compromising the spirit of the original sessions. Every decision is being made collectively, together with the album’s producer, as the band continues refining what will ultimately stand as Soundgarden’s closing statement.

The lengthy process has also been shaped by practical realities. Studio sessions have had to fit around an unusually busy period that included Soundgarden‘s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, Matt Cameron’s commitments with Pearl Jam, and Thayil’s own publishing work. Even so, the guitarist says the band is now working toward a 2027 release.

Beyond the album itself, the possibility of live performances has not been ruled out. Thayil acknowledged that conversations about returning to the stage may follow once the record is complete, although the immediate focus remains firmly on finishing the music.

For the band, this is more than another release. It is the final body of work created with Chris Cornell, carrying the weight of both Soundgarden’s legacy and one of rock’s most distinctive voices. That awareness has guided every stage of the process, with the remaining members determined to complete the album with the care and attention they believe the music deserves.

As work continues behind closed studio doors, Soundgarden‘s final chapter is gradually taking shape, one last record that brings together the voices and ideas of all four original members before the story reaches its conclusion.